Class 1 Flashcards
What is the vertebral column?
The vertebral column is a series of bones called vertebrae, are held together to give support for spinal cord and nerves arising from it
How many vertebrae are there? and how many of them are moveable?
• Total of 33 vertebrae
•Only 24 are moveable
From top to bottom, the vertebral column is divided into?
• cervical spine (7 vertebrae)
• thoracic spine (12 vertebrae)
• lumbar spine (5 vertebrae)
• sacrum (5 fused vertebrae)
• coccyx (4 fused vertebrae)
*each vertebra is numbered from top to bottom
Cervical spine has how many vertebrae?
7
Thoracic spine has how many vertebrae?
12
Lumbar spine has how many vertebrae?
5
Sacrum has now many vertebrae?
5 Fused Vertebrae
Coccyx has how many vertebrae?
4 Fused Vertebrae
Between the vertebrae are fibrocartilagenous discs called ____________.
Intervertebral Discs
What is the key function for Intervertebral Disks?
Key function in weight bearing
Intervertebral Disc is named for the _____________________ that it sits between.
Disc is named for 2 vertebrae that it sits between
There is no intervertebral disc between ______________.
C1 and C2
(Intervertebral Disks) Each disc has a fibrous outer layer called the ____________________.
Annulus Fibrosis
(Intervertebral Disks) The annulus surrounds the inner substance which is called the ___________________.
Nucleus Pulposus
Intervertebral disk innervation is _____________________.
aneural, except in the peripheral 1/3rd
Intervertebral disk blood supply is _______________.
avascular
Curves of the spine. Which are lordotic and which are kyphotic?
• cervical (lordotic)
• thoracic (kyphotic)
• lumbar (lordotic)
• sacral (kyphotic)
_____________ and _____________ curves of the spine are termed primary (bc they develop during the________________)
Thoracic and sacral, fetal period
______________ and _________________ curves of the spine are termed secondary (bc they develop when the _________________________________________)
Cervical and lumbar, infant starts lifting their head and walking
Vertebral foreman = _______________________
spinal cord
What is the body of vertebrae?
Large, heavy anterior part of vertebra (vertebral bodies get larger as you progress inferiorly)
What is the vertebral arch?
This part encloses the vertebral foramen
What part of the vertebrae is the pedicles?
The arch is formed anteriorly by 2 pedicles which project posteriorly from both sides of the superior part of the vertebral body
What part of the vertebrae is the laminae?
As the pedicles project posteriorly, they meet 2 laminae
What part of the vertebrae is the spinous process?
The laminae meet posteriorly to form a spinous process (SP)
What part of the vertebrae is the articular processes?
Four articular processes also arise from arch: there are superior and inferior articular processes on right and on left (total: 4)
What part of the vertebrae is the articular facet?
On each process is an articular facet: inferior facets of one vertebra articulate with superior facets of next lower vertebra (articular joints: a.k.a. zygapophysial joints)
What part of the vertebrae is the pars interarticularis?
Area between superior and inferior articular processes (most common fracture site)
What part of the vertebrae is the transverse processes?
Two transverse processes (TVPs) also arise from arch – they project laterally
What part of the vertebrae is the intervertebral foramen?
There are notches on pedicles (superior and inferior vertebral notches) – vertebral notches of 2 adjacent vertebrae form an almost complete ring called intervertebral foramen
Upper cervical spine consists of _______ and ________.
C1 & C2
Lower cervical spine consists of _______-_______.
C3-C7
C1 and C2 are ____________ vertebrae.
Atypical
Key features of C1 (the atlas)
• varies significantly from a typical vertebra
• designed to support occipital region of skull
• anterior arch
• articular facet for dens
• 2 lateral masses
• superior articular surface
• the TVPs are projections from lateral masses
• PLATE 29: transverse foramen allows passage of vertebral artery
• groove for vertebral artery
• posterior arch
• vertebral foramen
• tubercle for transverse ligament of atlas
• transverse ligament of atlas – connects 2 lateral masses and divides vertebral foramen into a posterior portion for passage of spinal cord and an anterior portion which accommodates the dens of the axis – there is a thin layer
of cartilage on the anterior surface
• inferior articular surface
• NO VERTEBRAL BODY
• NO SPINOUS PROCESS
What is the transverse ligament of atlas?
Connects 2 lateral masses and divides vertebral foramen into a posterior portion for passage of spinal cord and an anterior portion which accommodates the dens of the axis – there is a thin layer of cartilage on anterior surface
